Do I need a long-stay visa?

If you wish to travel to an EU country for more than 90 days, you may need a long-stay visa and/or a residence permit. In some countries, you will need first a long-stay visa and then a residence permit once you arrive on the territory of the EU country.

You must submit your application for a long-stay visa/residence permit to the relevant authorities of the country where you want to go. To find out more about getting a long-stay visa/residence permit, select the country from the map below or use the search tool on the left hand-side of the page.

Do I have to send in supporting documents when I apply for a long-stay visa?

Yes. The exact type of documents that are required will depend on the purpose of your stay and the rules in your destination country. In most EU countries you will need to show some or all of the following:

A travel document;

Documents proving the purpose of the intended stay (e.g. work contract, school enrolment etc.)

Proof of financial resources;

sickness insurance;

A medical certificate;

Your police record.

You may also need to have these documents certified by your government authorities and/or translated by authorised translators.

To find out more about the documents you need to send in, select the country from the map below or use the search tool.

If I have a long-stay visa, do I also need a residence permit?

Even if you have obtained a long-stay visa from an EU country, you may also need to apply for a residence permit once you are in this country. The rules can be different depending on the country you come from, how long you plan to stay and the rules in your destination country. For information on the rules that apply to you, select your destination country on this map or use the search tool on the left hand-side of the page.

I have been issued a long-stay visa by one EU country. Can I travel to other EU countries?

If you hold a long-stay visa or a residence permit from one of the 22 EU countries that are in the Schengen area, you can move freely in this area for up to 90 days during a 180 day period on the basis of your long-stay visa or residence permit and a valid travel document.

If you hold a long-stay visa or a residence permit from one of these 6 countries and wish to travel to a Schengen area country for less than 90 days, you will generally need to apply for a Schengen visa. If you have a long-stay visa or residence permit from a Schengen area country, you may travel for less than 90 days to Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus and Romania, while you may need a national visa to travel to the UK and Ireland.

Further Information

For more information on getting a long-stay visa, select the country from the map below or use the search tool on the left hand-side of the page.